Pandit Atulkumar Upadhye is a legendary violin player in Indian classical music. He is renowned for his exceptional skills and his contribution to the Indian music industry. He was born in a family of musicians, where his father, Guruvarya B.S Upadhye, was the founder of Upadhye Violin Vadan Vidyalay, a prestigious institute that has trained numerous students in violin playing.

Pandit Atulkumar Upadhye learned the art of violin playing from his father and went on to become one of the most accomplished violinists of his generation. He received training in the tradition of Pandit Bhaskarbuva Bakhle, Pandit Bappurao Ketkar, Pandit Shridhar Parsekar, and Dr. Yehudi Menuhin.

Apart from his exceptional violin playing skills, Pandit Atulkumar Upadhye is also a prolific music composer and has composed music for several documentaries and films. He has also collaborated with numerous artists from different genres of music.

Pandit Atulkumar Upadhye is the founder of India's 70 years old violin academy, which has produced several renowned violinists over the years. He is also the founder of the largest chain of music festivals in India, Swarazankar Music Festival, which has provided a platform for young and talented musicians to showcase their skills.

Pandit Atulkumar Upadhye has performed at several prestigious music festivals, including the Sawai Gandharv Bhimsen Mahotsav, Taansen Mahotsav, Virasat Mahotsav, Saptak Mahotsav, and many others. He has also received several awards and accolades for his contribution to Indian classical music.

Pandit Atulkumar Upadhye has developed right-hand techniques in violin playing, which have become popular among violinists around the world. His dedication, hard work, and talent have made him a living legend in the world of Indian classical music.

Mr. Shirishkumar Balkrishna Upadhye, a highly educated and beloved figure in the world of music. Born and raised in a musical family, Mr. Upadhye's passion for the violin began at a young age as he observed his renowned father, the late Pt. Balkrishna Sankar Upadhye, a follower of the esteemed vocalists Pt. Bharkarbuwa Bakhale and Pt. Shreedhar Parsekar.

In the 1970s, Mr. Shirishkumar's talent for the violin flourished, particularly in orchestra performances where his bowing technique garnered widespread acclaim for its scene-enhancing qualities. Alongside his pursuit of education, he joined the service of Bank of India at the age of nineteen and dedicated an impressive 43 years to the organization, attaining senior management positions. Throughout his professional career, he made a lasting impact as a compassionate officer, consistently helping the masses and uplifting society.

Despite the demands of his banking career, Mr. Shirishkumar never allowed himself to be separated from his beloved violin. Wherever he went, he would teach the violin and sow the seeds of music in young minds under the umbrella of the "Upadhye Violin Vadan Vidalalya," an institute founded by his father in 1951. To enroll in his class, aspiring students face rigorous examinations and make a heartfelt commitment to wholeheartedly worship the Goddess Sharada without interruption.

Mr. Shirishkumar does not charge any fees from his students; instead, he asks for a promise to perpetuate the teaching of the violin. Once a student becomes a part of his class, they become a permanent member of the Upadhye family. His belief is that music holds immense value, relieving everyday stress, offering satisfaction, and providing continuous happiness for a life of total contentment.

While he consciously refrains from commercial violin performances, Mr. Shirishkumar's year always begins with his "seva" at Saptashringi in Nasik, Maharashtra. Furthermore, he carries his violin with him during family tours and visits to pilgrimage sites, where he worships through "Swarabhisheka." Some of the notable places he frequents include "Dnyneshwer Mauli" in Alandi, Pune, Shree Datta Guru sthanas in various locations, the eight Ashtavinayaka Ganapati temples, Pawas, Ratnagiri, and Balaji-Shree Vankatesh.

Teaching the violin to students remains his true passion, and he has inspired school students in Dibrugarh, Northeast India, igniting their spirits with the power of music.

Mr. Shirishkumar's tireless efforts to teach students have yielded remarkable results, with his students receiving prestigious national and international awards. Many of his students have taken up the mantle of violin teaching in various locations in India and abroad, continuing the legacy of the Upadhye family. In addition to his teaching endeavors, he has shared his musical talents with those in need, performing the violin at old age homes, Cipla cancer hospital, Vyasan Mukti Kendra, Nisargopchar Ashram, and other charitable institutions. His devotional bhajans can be found on CD at the Nisargopchar Ashram in Utulikanchan, Pune. Notably, Mr. Shirishkumar has also composed music for documentaries on tribal development published by REWATCH, Arunachal Pradesh.

Tejas Upadhye is an accomplished violinist from the revered Pandit Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale Gharana, who comes from a family with 70 years of rich violin legacy going back to his grandfather. He started playing the violin at the age of 5 and gave his first concert at the age of 9. Tejas has won many awards and accolades for his violin solo, music composing, and fusion concepts, including the Lions Club, Rotary Club, Ganvardhan’s ‘Young Talent in Violin’ award, and Avi Ogale scholarship from Florida USA.

Tejas co-founded “Swarazankar” and “Centre for Promotion of Music” organizations, which serve as platforms to mentor young artists in Hindustani Classical music. His sterling performances in festivals such as Swarazankar, Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki Mahotsav, Saptak, etc. have enthused many young artists. He is also well-known for his fusions with bansuri, sarod, guitar, and sitar.

Tejas has performed violin concerts in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and France and received appreciations and future invitations. He has toured the USA in 2017 where he performed for TV Asia (New Jersey), Zankar Foundation (Cincinnati), and many more. In India, Tejas recently performed with A. Shivamani (percussionist), Padmashri Vijay Ghate (Tabla), and Pt. Yogesh Samshi (Tabla).

Tejas is a commerce graduate with distinction, but he opted to have a career in music due to the passion and love for Indian Classical Music within him recognized very early by his father and hence follow the rich tradition of Upadhye’s Violin Vadan Parampara of more than 70 years started by his grandfather. He teamed up with Sitar Maestro Shakir Khan (Son of Padmashri Ustad Shahid Parvez) for a unique duet of Sitar and Violin which is growing up as one of the most followed duets amongst the youth. Tejas’ duets with brother Rajas Upadhye are a perfect example of mutual coordination and musical brilliance.

Till date, Tejas has performed in many well-known concerts in Pune like well known Sawai Gandharv Bhimsen Mahotsav, Swarazankar, and other centres like Pimpri Chinchwad, Nashik, Baramati, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Bangalore, Dharwad, Delhi, Banaras, Kalkatta, to name a few, and to his credit. Tejas is an inspiration to many young artists and music lovers can look forward to an exhilarating and melodious performance by this accomplished violinist.

Rajas Upadhye is a talented violinist and a disciple of Pandit Atulkumar Upadhye, a renowned violin maestro. Rajas comes from a family with a rich tradition of playing the violin, dating back to his grandfather, Guruvarya Pt. Balkrishna Upadhye. The Upadhye family belongs to the Pt. Bhaskarbua Bakhale Gharana, and their playing technique is an improvisation of Pt. Gajananbua Joshi's style, with glimpses of Pt. Shridhar Parsekar ji's style.

Rajas began learning the violin at the age of seven and has won numerous awards since his early school days, including the Interschool Instrumentalist of the Year for three years in a row, a record that still stands. During his college days, he won several awards for his solo violin performances, music compositions, and fusion concepts. Despite achieving a first-class distinction in computer science from Fergusson College, Pune, Rajas chose to pursue a career in music because of his passion and love for Indian classical music and to follow his family's tradition.

Rajas has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Padmabhushan Begum Parween Sultana and Padmabhushan Pt. Rajan Sajan Mishra ji. His duets with his brother Tejas Upadhye showcase his musical brilliance and mutual coordination. Rajas has performed in various concerts in Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, Nashik, Bhopal, and even in England, Germany, and Switzerland during his tour to Europe at the age of sixteen.

Rajas has received several awards and accolades for his musical excellence, including the National Scholarship of CCRT (New Delhi), All India Radio's National Award 2015-16, Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar by Academy of Music Chennai, and Violinist of the Year 2015 by Gaanvardhan. Rajas Upadhye is a rising star in the world of Indian classical music and an embodiment of his family's rich violin tradition.

Vishal Urkude, a disciple of renowned Violinist Pt. Atulkumar Upadhye and Shri Tejas Upadhye, is a name that resonates with melodic brilliance.

With an impressive repertoire of performances to his credit, Vishal has captivated audiences at esteemed events like the Swarzankar Musical Orchestra, organized by the Violin Academy in Pune, Satara, and Ahmadnagar. He has also mesmerized listeners with his enchanting melodies at Smitanjali, and collaborated with a Sufi band, showcasing his versatility as an artist.

For the past five years, Vishal has been associated with Swarazankar, where he plays a pivotal role in event management and coordinates the Music Appreciation School Project. As a dedicated violin teacher, he imparts his knowledge and passion to aspiring musicians, nurturing their talents with utmost care.

Beyond his virtuosity on the violin, Vishal showcases his versatility as a musician through his compositions, lyrical prowess, and poetic expressions. With an innate ability to create evocative melodies and heartfelt lyrics, he paints vivid musical landscapes that touch the soul.

Mrs. Shalini Rao is a dedicated Indian classical violinist whose journey began under the guidance of the well-known violinist and vocalist Late Pt. Gajananbua Joshi. She completed her Visharad from Vallabh Sangeet Vidyalay, Bombay under his tutelage.

She has been pursuing higher studies for over 20 years at Upadhye Violin Vadan Vidyalay (UVVV), under the mentorship of Pt. Atulkumar Upadhye, an internationally recognized violinist known for his 75-year-old parampara (tradition) of violin playing.

With his blessings, she established Shruti Violin Vidyalay in Aundh in 2003 as part of UVVV, where she continues to teach and share her knowledge with students.

Her curriculum includes a special focus on Marathi Natya Sangeet, a rich musical genre deeply rooted in Maharashtra’s classical traditions.

Mrs. Shalini Rao has performed at various esteemed platforms such as Virasat, Jalsa, Sargam Palace, and Gurupournima Utsav, captivating audiences with her expressive and soulful violin renditions.